How long have you been in Thailand?
I’m just a few months away from having lived here 10 years, time flies!
How has the music scene changed since you've been living here?
2005 on…from what I could see the music scene was just starting and it was rolling with the help of people like “Yos” and “Chris Luppi” from Elephant Eye Records. Together they organized shows here in Bangkok…mostly in the hardcore department. I can still recall a serious full on metal phase not long after I moved here. I love me some metal too, but Bangkok has always been big on metal…and concrete haha. That’s it..I’m starting a new genera called “concrete” and it’s solid! This is my new band “Dry Aggregate”, a mass of fragments and particles and we play concrete! Haha! Wait, where were we? ADHD kicking in there haha… Oh yeah, so if metal was not your bag you had to really search out hardcore punk or any other form of extreme music that was outside of the metal scene…and concrete scene... haha I love that. The music scene has constantly been evolving …we have had a lot of bands come and go, a lot of venues come and go, and a lot of concrete come and go haha... I’m just glad I can be a little piece of the fun here and lucky enough to have good friends that let me join in on the fun.
Yes, my first band was “Barbwire Bats”…Yusuke from Low fat was the drummer. He was one of the wildest drummers I think I had ever seen. You had to have seen it to believe it…I kept hearing it too…”Dude, your drummer is insane” hahah! We had a really hot Thai punk girl on guitar “Nat”…the other thing I would always hear was “ Dude, she is hot” hahah We had two different bass player in the lineup “Val” and “Poe”.. Anyway it gave me my bat-wings to fly on to other projects.
When did TSOS form?
Our first rehearsal was January 23rd, 2012
What is the current lineup of TSOS?
Sano, Oogy, Vic (original bass player for BTS) & myself..Mr Wonderful
Who are the old members?
I don’t know but I’m the youngest in the band haha. The original guitar player was Karim. French dude that has since relocated back to France. Nice guy and great artist too!! He did all the art work for TSOS.
Karim and Oogy wrote most all the music, sometimes I would bring a riff to the formula and Karim would add to it and a new song would come. Lyrics are always last and seem to pertain to situations or things going on round us or our lives.
What are your musical influences?
All over the place…I have a pretty massive collection of music...
How does Thai music scene compare to your native Texas?
Two totally different places…both both are hot. There are lots of touring bands and we just don’t get them over here as we are so far away.
Do you think the hardcore punk scene is strong in Thailand?
It’s here and rolling, still a small scene but the seed is planted and will only continue to grow.
What are some hardcore punk bands people should check out?
สันดาน Sundan, Strike Out, License to Kill, Untha Attack, Monument X, Low Fat, Bullet Brain
I’m usually going 110% balls out trying to have fun and make it to the last song without passing out or dying haha. I see Mick Farren as dying the ultimate RnR death…playing music on stage, with lights in his eyes and music in his ears….midstride….excuse me while I check out…what a cool way to check out RIP…
What is the most memorable show?
For TSOS the Fatty’s shows have always been the most fun
What is the message of TSOS?
The State of Society it’s in the age of decadence
The State of Society has built wall between us
The State of Society it’s in your hands
The State of Society…something’s got to be done!
You get a chance to see a lot of different bands - outside of hardcore punk and, what bands would you recommend people go and hear when they are in Bangkok?
I always end up asking when are coming here and what sort stuff they like and start searching events on Facebook. It’s much easier to search for events now that it was 10 years ago. Be it rock, metal, blues, jazz, whatever…it’s all here in some form or manner and you can do a quick little research for your niche. For me…Degaruda are a current band that are flat out amazing…Aire put on a great live show. There is a plethora of bands..but we need more venues now haha
Fatty’s…they have a nice mixer now too : )~
What are the challenges or obstacles for punk bands in Bangkok?
Finding that new bar that’s opening here and open to the idea of having live music (not house bands)…..and then on to the next one
Top favorite bands of all time?
Led Zeppelin, Black Flag, Pink Fairies, Jane’s Addiction, Iggy Pop/ Stooges, Angry Samoans, Dead Boys, DK’s, Adolescents, Circle Jerks, Negative Approach, Germs, 13th Floor Elevators, Roky Erickson,
Describe TSOS in one sentence.
The State of Society…something’s got to be done!